News Clubs operating league-sanctioned drug testing program - Harley Balic’s Dad Speaks

[Chief]

AFL Statement

As well as being a signatory to World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) code via the Australian Football Anti-Doping Code, the AFL has an Illicit Drug Policy which has been in place since 2005, and at the core of the policy is a commitment to player wellbeing and welfare.

The AFL Illicit Drug Policy (IDP) is a policy that specifically deals with the use of illicit substances out of competition and is focussed on player health and well-being. The policy seeks to reduce substance use and drug-related harms for AFL players and aims to inform and rehabilitate players through education and intervention.

It exists alongside and in addition to the Australian Football Anti-Doping Code which covers prohibited substances including some illicit substances in competition as prescribed by the WADA prohibited list.

Urine tests conducted by doctors to determine if a player has used illicit substances are part of the AFL’s Illicit Drug Policy medical model and have been for some time.

Doctors may use those urine tests to obtain an immediate result to determine whether any illicit substance remains in a player’s system. This is normally conducted at the club or in the doctors consulting rooms.

If the test shows a substance is still in the players system, a doctor will take steps to prevent a player from taking part in either training and/or an AFL match both for their own health and welfare and because having illicit substances in your system on match day may be deemed performance enhancing and a breach of the Australian Football Anti-Doping Code (depending on the substance involved).

It is absolutely imperative that no doctor or club official should ever allow or encourage a player to take the field knowing they have recently taken an illicit substance that may be harmful to their health and/or may be deemed performance-enhancing (as many illicit substances are on match day).

We support the WADA code (as it applies to our sport through the Australian Football Anti-Doping Code) and support the fundamental premise on which it is founded that any player who takes the field with a performance-enhancing prohibited substance in their system should be treated in accordance with the Anti-Doping Code and face heavy sanctions.

The AFL observes that AFL players are not immune to the societal issues faced by young people with respect to illicit substances and also acknowledges that illicit drug use problems commonly co-occur with other mental health conditions.

While the AFL’s medical model involves a multidisciplinary healthcare management plan, the monitoring of players is highly confidential. A doctor or healthcare professional generally cannot disclose the nature of the clinical intervention or condition to others unless the player willingly consents.

We understand that the Illicit Drugs Policy can be improved and we are working with the AFLPA and players to improve the policy and the system to ensure we are better able to change the behaviours of players. But we are unapologetic about club and AFL doctors taking the correct steps to ensure that any player who they believe has an illicit substance in their system does not take part in any AFL match and that doctor patient confidentially is upheld and respected.

The AFL will always be required to make decisions which seek to balance competing rights and interests. The medical interests and welfare of players is a priority for the AFL given everything we know about the risks facing young people generally and those who play our game in particular.

 

[Zen242]

Goody was neck deep in dank juice at Essendon and landed the top job at the Dees without facing any scrutiny from the Essendon saga.
Melbourne was using Dank through the period Essendon was and never faced any scrutiny.
So the club and its officials learned behaviour is that they’ll do as they please and be assisted by the league.
This episode is a mere continuation of circumstances fostered over many years.

From tanking to danking!

 

[Taylor]

So you’re saying it’s Melbourne and Casey?!

I'm old enough to remember when the system was first tweaked, ha, to allow players to self report and a quarter of the Pies list rolled in after the weekend to do that nearly every week. No strikes.

 

[Jbudds04v2]

I made this joke elsewhere and I expect someone else already has but if I were someone working at Adelaide I'd be very nervous that I was about to be punished for what happened at Melbourne.

Just like last time..

so true.

 

[DragoDelph]

It's not though which is my point. Because the AFL has now admitted that the policy is in and of itself something it openly admits to.

Which even if it’s fine under WADA, socially and ethically it’s not.

It feels like enablement, and something the average punter who is subject to D&A testing for work isn’t afforded.

And there is no consequence. No shame, no loss of pay, just “be better” and we’ll
See you next week.

 

[Muddiemoose]

It's not though which is my point. Because the AFL has now admitted that the policy is in and of itself something it openly admits to.

It is both though
Because it’s now admitted to having a policy that circumvents its own official AFL illicit drug testing program and strike policy by sending players to private medical facilities instead of using the official AFL channels

 

[kozi]

Bad round to be a late out this week

 

[Corkintheocean]

From a cheating perspective, if WADA think it's ok, then I think it's ok. It would be comparable to the AFL attending training and telling players "you can train in those (specially enhanced somehow) boots if you like, but make sure you don't wear them game day because they are illegal"


Should we be ok with players taking cocaine in general? That's a decision for the individual to make. And whilst I'm no wowser when it comes to recreational drugs, there are broader issues around abuse and mental health (particularly in the context of highly paid pro athletes), other long term effects, and of course, the moral aspects surrounding the production and distribution of cocaine that bear consideration.

The issue for me isn't with the AFL and WADA, but the AFL and the Australian government. How can you be awarding funding grants to an organisation that is engaged in the cover up of its employees constantly absuing A class drugs. Surely the government funding this endeavour is neither optimal use of taxpayer's money or of societal benefit.

 

[tigs2010]

Bad round to be a late out this week

GWS & GC going nuts this week

 

[tenacious d]

Enough is enough, MFC need to recieve sort of severe punishment.

The MFC have overseen a drug culture at thier club for many many years now.

Look at the some of the current and past players (and thier coach).

To those at the AFL. What the hell have you done to our sport? I have a feeling that the executive leadership team at the AFL will most likely (if they have not already) lose thier jobs. Particularly those that have been employed there throughout the last 10 years. I wonder whether any criminal charges may result from this....

This story is as big if not bigger than the Essendon scandal. The fallout will

Has Melbourne bought the league into disrepute or doesn't it Count because the AFL were in on it? Either way it is no surprise that Melbourne are going the ay they are going even with such a talented list. Whatever culture they were building has crumbled. They need clean air. Goodwin has his hands all over this and needs to go. As does a handful of players.

Geelong clowns think Danger has bad hammies. Glass houses and all that

 

[Anja_Nees]

I'm old enough to remember when the system was first tweaked, ha, to allow players to self report and a quarter of the Pies list rolled in after the weekend to do that nearly every week. No strikes.

Ah the glory days.

I’m old enough to remember when the medical records of half of Hawthorn’s list got left on the pavement in Ivanhoe and it emerged they were seeking treatment for drugs. When kids were allowed to be kids.

 

[3207]

They'll pin this on Ricky Nixon somehow.

Toot toot.

This is far funnier than you think it is.

 

[Pablito]

Essendon supporters this morning hearing it wasn't them......yet

 

[tenacious d]

This is AFL policy. Take all the potshots at Melbourne you want but YOUR club is involved in this too.

 

[jim boy]

Big news - doctors conduct tests!

 

[Milanista28]

Imagine a player was out this week and the reason was 'Partying'

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

Big news - doctors conduct tests!

Doctor conducts WADA tests before WADA and hides anyone who is guilty is the actual accusation here

 

[Tippett2Goal]

Actually thought this was already common'ish knowledge.

Same as if players admit to drug use prior to testing, it doesn't count as a strike under the voluntary code.

Can see why it is very attractive and easy for clubs to keep players on the park.
Have no doubt every other club (except mine of course) is fully exploiting the loopholes in the code, including withdrawing players on matchday they know/suspect would post positive to WADA

 

[garlic munchers]

What’s really interesting is that Bartlett is one of the whistleblowers.

I know he’s got a beef with how he was dumped from Melbourne but he appears to have been one of the AFL boys club and now that he’s been kicked out he’s willing to spill the beans.

Also it surely spells the end of Goyder.

You miss the point of why Bartlett was kicked out of the boys club, it was because he was willing to, and was at the time, “spilling the beans” as you put it, not afterwards.

He wanted to take action whilst President and was kneecapped by Gil and his mates for his temerity of wanting to address drug concerns.

Just so happened to do so at a boys club which operates within the biggest boys club of them all.

Also should spell the end of the cult of Gil and reveal him for the shite stain he was/is.

 

[SBYM]

Caleb Marchbank needs to go home. That bloke has been partying for years.

 

[jim boy]

The next step is to remove speedometers from players cars so players cant "test" whether they are ILLEGALLY speeding and thus avoid the punishment by slowing down.

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

Essendon supporters this morning hearing it wasn't them......yet

The Essendon edginess

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

Imagine a player was out this week and the reason was 'Partying'

"We had a tough session on Wednesday and Joel hasnt come up so he will be missing this week"
"You didnt have a training session on Wednesday Simon"
"Oh not a training session, I mean our cocaine session"

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

The next step is to remove speedometers from players cars so players cant "test" whether they are ILLEGALLY speeding and thus avoid the punishment by slowing down.

It would be

Speedsters need to have access too the film roll of the speed cameras so they can edit the photos before the police see them

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

This is AFL policy. Take all the potshots at Melbourne you want but YOUR club is involved in this too.

I reserve the right to alter my perspective once my club is named.

 

[Muddiemoose]

Doctor conducts WADA tests before WADA and hides anyone who is guilty is the actual accusation here

Yup this is my issue
Personally I don’t have a problem and think it make sense in order to prevent a player from copping a massive punishment for using a party drug but being punished as performance enhancing

The issue is it directly contradicts the AFL’s illicit drug policy that they hide behind to justify that the league doesn’t have a drugs issue

The league can’t have the moral high ground in these social issues if they are complicit in covering them up

It also brings into question any other policy that the AFL has because it shows that they are more than happy to work around them if it suits them